BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Charlie Strong is facing a familiar opponent in his first bowl game with South Florida.

The former Texas coach leads the 23rd-ranked Bulls (9-2) into the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday against Texas Tech (6-6), the Longhorns' Big 12 Conference rival. Strong isn't banking too much on that familiarity.

''It's just totally two different teams,'' said Strong, who was 2-1 against the Red Raiders with the Longhorns. ''You look at last year they had a quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) who was a first-round draft pick. In three years at Texas, we had some really good games and Kliff (Kingsbury) has done a very good job with that team.

''It's a very explosive offense, can score at any time, very aggressive on defense.''

Texas Tech's Kingsbury said there's a different look from those Texas teams because of personnel, including a dual-threat quarterback.

''I don't see too much carry over outside the fact that coach Strong's teams are always well coached and play very hard,'' Kingsbury said.

Strong is trying to finish his first season at South Florida by helping the Bulls reach double-digit wins and finish in the Top 25 for the second straight year.

Both defenses are tasked with defending dangerous quarterbacks, though they have different styles.

South Florida's Quinton Flowers is a running and passing threat while Texas Tech's Nic Shimonek is a prolific passer. Kingsbury said it's hard to find a scout teamer to simulate a player like Flowers.

''The quickness and athleticism that Quinton brings is a different animal,'' Kingsbury said. ''He's like a very dynamic wide receiver who's a very athletic passer back there, trying to corral him.''

The Red Raiders became bowl eligible with a comeback win over the Longhorns, who led by 10 points early in the fourth quarter. Strong said he didn't watch the game except while studying Texas Tech film.

''It was a really good football game,'' he said.

Here are some things to watch in the Birmingham Bowl:

FLOWERS' RECORDS: With 11,385 total yards in his career, Flowers needs just 47 total yards to break the American Athletic Conference record held by Temple's Phillip Walker. He needs just 28 rushing yards to reach 2,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards for the second time; only Louisville's Lamar Jackson had achieved that entering the postseason.

''It's not on my mind,'' Flowers said of the league record. ''I just go out there and play the game. If it happens, it happens. I'm a team player. I'm always going to be a team player.''

NIC IN CHARGE: Texas Tech quarterback Nic Shimonek is expected to be back in the starting spot after coming off the bench to lead that fourth-quarter comeback in the regular season finale against Texas. It was the only time the senior didn't start this season. Shimonek has passed for 3,547 yards and 30 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.

DEFENSIVE CHALLENGE: Texas Tech's defense, which ranks 99th nationally in total yards, faces an offense that's ninth in total yards at nearly 509 per game.

PROTECT THE BALL: Texas Tech has a plus-11 turnover margin, one shy of the school record set in 1997. South Florida, though, has lost a modest 12 turnovers, which is tied for 14th fewest nationally.

RETURN TRIPS: This is South Florida's second straight Birmingham Bowl game against a Power 5 team. The Bulls beat South Carolina 46-39 in overtime last season with Strong watching from the sidelines before taking over the program. Texas Tech played at Legion Field in the 1989 All-American Bowl, beating No. 20 Duke 49-21.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

Appalachian State and Toledo meet for the second straight season after the Mountaineers beat the Rockets 31-28 in the Camellia Bowl in 2016. The rematch will also be in Alabama, though it'll take place a few hours south in Mobile. Appalachian State will try to win its third bowl game in three seasons after making the full transition from FCS to FBS. Toledo is trying to tie a school record with 12 wins.

KEY MATCHUP

Toledo QB Logan Woodside vs. Appalachian State's defense: Woodside has thrown for 3,758 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. His top target WR Diontae Johnson has 1,257 yards receiving and 13 TDs. The Rockets will match up with a Mountaineers defense that gave up just 10 points per game during its three-game winning streak to end the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Appalachian State: QB Taylor Lamb. The senior has thrown for 2,606 yards and 27 touchdowns. He's also run for 539 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

Toledo: RB Terry Swanson. The Rockets can run just as well as they can throw. Swanson leads the way 1,319 yards rushing and 14 TDs. He's averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

FACTS & FIGURES

Toledo won the MAC championship with a 45-28 victory over Akron. It was the Rockets' first league title since 2004. ... Toledo's second-year head coach Jason Candle has a 21-6 record. He was named this year's MAC Coach of the Year. ... Toledo has played in bowls in seven of the past eight years. The Rockets have an 11-5 bowl record. ... Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield has a 40-22 record over five seasons at the school, including a 35-9 record over the past 44 games. ... The Mountaineers have a 27-3 record in their last 30 games against Sun Belt opponents.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Two of college football's most dominant rushing attacks will clash when San Diego State faces Army in Saturday's Armed Forces Bowl - even though the offenses are dramatically different.

The pro-style offense used by San Diego State (10-2) is led by the top rusher in the Bowl Subdivision, senior Rashaad Penny. The consensus All-American finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, ran for 2,027 yards and needs 107 more to break the school's single-season mark set last year by Donnel Pumphrey.

Army (9-3) leads the nation in averaging 368.1 yards rushing per game and is last with 29.6 yards passing using an option formation that chugs methodically downfield. It's led by senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, whose 1,566 yards rushing rank fifth nationally.

In winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1996, the Black Knights attempted no passes against Air Force, one against Navy (complete for 20 yards) and 19 all season. San Diego State offensive coordinator Jeff Horton said his unit was ''like an Air Raid team'' compared to Army's grind-it-out, keep-the-ball approach.

''It's a very difficult scheme to stop with any consistency,'' Aztecs coach Rocky Long said of the Black Knights' option. ''We are only going to get the ball five or six times for the entire football game. It's very unusual, but for a true football fan, it's going to be very interesting to watch.''

San Diego State is the first FBS program with consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons from different players. Penny could become the fourth player to compile five straight games of 200 yards, and Army coach Jeff Monken knows his defense will need to slow him down.

''He's proven he's one of the best players in the nation, if not the best,'' Monken said.

Some other things to watch for in Saturday's game at the home stadium of TCU:

NO-SLOUCH DEFENSES

For all the attention on the offenses, both teams have respectable defenses: San Diego State is 11th in the FBS in total defense and Army ranks 35th.

BOWL PRIDE

San Diego State's 6-0 start included wins over Stanford and Arizona State. Then the Aztecs lost at home to Boise State and Fresno State, realistically ending their chances of winning a third consecutive Mountain West championship, and have since won four straight. SDSU is playing in its eighth consecutive bowl, the last seven under Long. The program appeared in eight total bowls prior to this streak. Army ties a school record with a second straight bowl appearance, equaling the 1984-85 teams that were the first in West Point history to accept invitations.

LINEMAN HURT

Aztecs senior right guard Antonio Rosales injured his left ankle early this season and hasn't played since mid-October. Long said he plans to start Rosales in his final college game and see how long he can play in trying to open holes for Penny.

ARMY'S FIELD GENERAL

Bradshaw needs just 22 yards to have the best rushing season at a service academy. Navy's Napoleon McCallum ran for 1,587 yards in 1983.

STREAKS

San Diego State is seeking 11 wins for the third consecutive season. The only other FBS schools to achieve that during the 2015-17 seasons are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma. ... Monken, in his fourth season at West Point, has led the Black Knights to three straight winning seasons for the first time since 1988-90. A victory would equal the West Point record for wins in a season, owned by the 1996 team that went 10-2.

''It's a challenge for us, playing a great team like San Diego State, but exciting to have that opportunity,'' Monken said. ''It's something that we're certainly conscious of.''

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

True freshman running back Toneil Carter, junior tight end Garrett Gray and sophomore receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey were suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules, according to Herman.

Humphrey caught 37 passes for 431 yards, Carter rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns and Gray had four receptions for 18 yards.

The suspensions leave Texas (6-6) without at least seven players when it faces Missouri (7-5) in the bowl game at Houston. Junior defense tackle Chris Nelson will miss the contest with an elbow injury, while offensive tackle Connor Williams, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Holton Hill are all skipping the contest after declaring for the 2018 draft.

--Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack has been suspended for the team's Citrus Bowl game against LSU.

Coach Brian Kelly said Mack's suspension is because of an "internal team matter" and unrelated to academics. The junior was academically ineligible for all of the 2016 season.

Mack has reeled in 19 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown in 10 games this season. With Mack ruled out for the Jan. 1 game as well as freshman Brock Wright (shoulder), the Fighting Irish likely will turn to either Nic Weishar or freshman Cole Kmet at tight end.

Notre Dame will also be without sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson and freshman running back C.J. Holmes, who have been suspended indefinitely after an arrest for shoplifting.

--Louisville junior cornerback Jaire Alexander will not play in next week's TaxSlayer Bowl and will turn pro.

"I know it was a very difficult decision for Jaire," Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement. "I appreciate the contributions he made to the program over the last three seasons, and I wish him all the best in the future."

Alexander is rated as a late second-round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com. Louisville plays Mississippi State in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Dec. 30 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Alexander (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) suffered through an injury-plagued junior year in which he sustained a knee injury in the season opener against Purdue and a broken hand in practice in late October. He finished with 19 tackles and one interception in six games.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

The Bulls were a disappointment for Over bettors despite the outstanding play of Quinton Flowers. The dual-threat QB needs just 47 yards to become the AAC all-time leader in offensive yards gained.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. South Florida Bulls (-2.5, 66.5)

Game to be played at Legion Field, Birmington, Alabama

When Texas Tech and No. 24 South Florida meet in the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field on Dec. 23, two of the top offensive teams in the nation figure to light up the scoreboard. Behind senior quarterback Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech ended the regular season ranked 17th in FBS in total offense (468.4 yards per game) and 26th in scoring offense, averaging 34.6 points. USF senior quarterback Quinton Flowers led the Bulls to an average of 508.6 yards per game, ninth nationally, and spearheaded the No. 16 scoring offense in the nation (38.3).

Flowers has the opportunity to end his collegiate career as one of the most prolific offensive players in American Athletic Conference and school history. Already the school record holder with 11,385 career yards of offense, Flowers needs just 47 more to become the conference all-time leader. Flowers also needs just 44 yards to break Marlon Mack's school record for career rushing yards, one more touchdown pass for sole possession of first with 68, just 312 yards passing to break Matt Grothe's single-season mark of 2,911 and with four scoring strikes would break his own single-season mark of 24 set last season.

In the final regular season game against rival Texas, Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury went with sophomore quarterback McLane Carter in place of Shimonek, who had started the opening 11 games of the season. But with Texas Tech down by 10 to start the fourth quarter, Shimonek entered the game and rallied the Red Raiders to a 27-23 victory with a pair of touchdown passes and 96 yards through the air. Kingsbury wasted no time in removing any doubt as to who would start the Birmingham Bowl, announcing three weeks out that Shimonek would get the call under center against USF.
TV: Noon ET, ESPN.
LINE HISTORY: Just about all shops opened with the Bulls set as 2.5-point favorites and as we inch closer to game day, some locations are starting to hang a field goal spread. The total opened as high as 69 but the line is holding steady at 66.5.
INJURY REPORT:

South Florida - WR Deangelo Antoine (Ankle, Out).
WEATHER REPORT: Rain is in the forecast for Saturday's game. Early indications point to an 83 percent chance of precipitation during the game while game time temperatures should be between 51 and 69 degrees.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 4-8 O/U): The Red Raiders became bowl eligible for the 38th time in school history with a victory against Texas in the regular season finale. The often maligned Texas Tech defense, which ranks 99th in the country in total yards per game allowed, came up with the big plays against Texas as it forced four turnovers overall to fuel the comeback and preserve the victory. After allowing 40 or more points in five of the opening nine games, the Red Raiders held their final three opponents to under 30.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (9-2 SU, 5-6 ATS, 4-7 O/U): Under first-year coach Charlie Strong, the Bulls can accomplish something never done in program history. With a victory in the Birmingham Bowl, USF can record consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins for the first time since the program was born in 1997. "It's big,'' Strong told reporters. "It allows our seniors to go out on a winning note. Then it prepares us now to step into next season, where you go from 11 wins (in 2016) to 10 wins. Now you're sitting with new expectations, a new team and a new season, you can carry over from that. You can build off of what you've done those last two years.''
TRENDS:

*Texas Tech is 4-0 ATS in its last four non-conference games.
*South Florida is 1-4 ATS in its last five games.
*The over is 7-1 in the Red Raiders' last eight bowl games.
CONSENSUS: Over 65 percent of players are backing the South Florida Bulls to cover as 2.5-point chalk against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny was the top rusher in the nation this past season while Army was the top running team in the country. Which ground game will get the edge on Saturday?

San Diego State Aztecs vs. Army Black Knights (+6.5, 46)

Game to be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

Fans of the ground game won't want to miss San Diego State's Rashaad Penny match up against Army's vaunted run attack at the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. Penny received five All-American awards after leading the country in rushing yards (2,027) and adding 19 touchdowns on the ground. The talented senior saved his best for last, stringing together four straight 200-yard rushing efforts while scoring nine touchdowns over that stretch.

The Black Knights are no slouches themselves when it comes to producing high-level rushing performances as their 355.8 rushing yards per game led the entire nation, and they joined Navy as the only FBS schools this season to surpass 4,000 total yards on the ground. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw was the most dangerous player for Army, rushing for 1,566 yards and 12 TDs. Eleven different Black Knights players had at least one rushing score this season.

Army comes into this one having played the role of cardiac kids a little too often for its own comfort in recent weeks, with five of its last six games decided by five or fewer points. And while the Black Knights are no worse for wear despite the spate of close games - going 4-1 in those contests - they were fortunate to escape with a 14-13 win against Navy in their annual December showdown to capture the Commander-in-Chief trophy for the first time in 1996.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
LINE HISTORY: San Diego State opened as a touchdown favorite but the spread has dropped to just six points. The total opened at 46.5 and has since come down a half point to 46.
INJURY REPORT:

Army - DB Rhyan England (Undisclosed, Probable).
WEATHER REPORT: The forecast is calling for clear skies and game day temperatures between 37 and 50 degrees.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS, 4-7-1 O/U): One-sided home losses to Boise State and Fresno State left the Aztecs searching for answers - and boy, did they find them in short order. Behind a highly motivated Penny, San Diego reeled off four consecutive routs to close the season, outscoring Hawaii, San Jose State, Nevada and New Mexico by a combined 110 points en route to their school-record eighth consecutive bowl appearance. Quarterback Christian Chapman will likely only be called upon to give Penny a rest, but acquitted himself well with 1,848 passing yards, 13 TDs and just three interceptions during the season.
ABOUT ARMY (9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS, 6-6 O/U): There isn't much more that can be said about the ultimate run-first offense - the Black Knights threw just 61 passes all year, completing 19 - but the defense is another story altogether, and one that Army fans should be pleased about heading into Dec. 23. Entering its date with Navy, Army allowed opponents to score points on just 70 percent of their red-zone visits - even with USC, and behind only Troy, TCU and Virginia Tech. The Black Knights were also one of the top teams in the country at securing the football, turning it over just nine times in 12 games - tied for third-fewest turnovers in Division I.
TRENDS:

*The Aztecs are 4-0 ATS in their last four games.
*The Aztecs are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games against teams with winning records.
*The under is 4-0 in Army's last four games against teams from the Mountain West Conference.
*The under is 4-1 in San Diego State's last five bowl games.
CONSENSUS: About 66 percent of players like San Diego State to cover as a 6-point favorite on Saturday against Army.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Quinton Flowers' record-setting career ended with the dynamic South Florida quarterback providing big play after big play.

It also ended with him hoisting the Birmingham Bowl trophy after his 26-yard touchdown pass to Tyre McCants provided the game-winning points with 16 seconds left in a thrilling 38-34 victory over Texas Tech to allow the Bulls to finish with a 10-2 record.

The winning touchdown came 1:15 after Texas Tech quarterback Nic Shimonek gave the Red Raiders (6-7) a 34-31 lead with a 25-yard scoring toss to T.J. Vasher. It was that kind of second half.

Flowers finished with 417 yards in total offense and accounted for five touchdowns. Shimonek threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns.

Army 42, San Diego State 35

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Kell Walker ran a two-point conversion after Darnell Woolfolk's 1-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left to lead Army to a scintillating victory over San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Raashad Penny's 4-yard scoring run with 5:47 to play gave San Diego State a 35-28 lead but the Black Knights (10-3) responded with a 72-yard, 15-play drive and a 1-yard TD blast by Woolfolk. Penny rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns for the Aztecs (10-3).

Army eschewed an extra-point attempt and chose to pitch the ball to Walker, who ran untouched around right end for the winning conversion.

The junior running back and the leading rusher in the Sun Belt Conference churned out 125 yards and recorded his first career three-touchdown game. The Mountaineers became the first team to win three consecutive bowl games after completing its transition to FBS.

Moore was certainly impressive but so was the defense, which held the Rockets' high-scoring offense in check. Appalachian State (9-4) finished with 458 yards.

Averaging more than 500 yards and ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense, Toledo (11-3) never got going against a swarming and relentless Mountaineers defense that allowed 146 yards and eight first downs.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

While the Week 16 NFL slate fills up the Christmas Eve schedule there is not a Sunday night game as attention will turn back to the college game with bowl action from Hawai’i in the evening time slot. Fresno State and Houston face off in a closely-lined contest with both teams having success following coaching changes.

Among the various bowl destinations the Hawai’i Bowl stands out as a favorable destination for most schools. For Fresno State it will be a second trip to Honolulu, as they won a Mountain West road game at Hawai’i in November. Fresno State also played in this bowl game three seasons ago, losing 30-6 to Rice at the end of the 2014 season. Houston lost to the host in the Hawai’i Bowl in triple overtime in 2003. This bowl matchup will be the first ever meeting between these programs.

Both teams had coaching changes after last season in much different scenarios. Fresno State finished 1-11 last season leading to the dismissal of Tim DeRuyter with a few games remaining. The Bulldogs reached out to the man that was their quarterback for two seasons in the early 1980s, Jeff Tedford. After a solid 11 year run at California Tedford bounced around the previous three seasons coaching the NFL, CFL, and back as an assistant in college football last season at Washington. Few could have envisioned such a successful homecoming for Tedford back in Fresno where he also was an assistant coach in the mid-1990s.

For Houston, success the past two seasons led to Tom Herman being plucked away by Texas necessitating a coaching change. The Cougars turned to Major Applewhite, a former Texas quarterback that was an assistant at Alabama and Texas before joining Herman’s staff as the offensive coordinator in 2015. That made for an easier transition for the program and while this season won’t match the success the Cougars had the past two years, returning to a bowl game and featuring a winning season was a solid debut for the 39-year-old first time head coach.

Tedford has long been known as a developer of quarterbacks, grooming NFL draft picks Trent Dilfter, David Carr, Akili Smith, A.J. Feeley, and Joey Harrington while an assistant at Fresno State and Oregon and then coaching Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers at California. He did a magnificent job coaching Oregon State transfer Marcus McMaryion into a very successful season this year with the junior completing 61 percent of his passes with only four interceptions.

The Bulldogs didn’t post big offensive numbers with just over 28 points per game but they avoided turnovers, finishing +8 in turnover margin on the season and only losing the turnover battle three times this season and never worse than -1. Freshman Jordan Mims and sophomore Josh Hokit split the carries in the backfield with similar production while junior KeeSean Johnson was the fourth leading receiver in the Mountain West.

The turnaround from 1-11 to 9-4 with a division title was mainly led by the defense. Tedford stepped into a good situation with a lot of returning contributors and despite the awful record, Fresno State lost six games by 14 or fewer points in the 2016 season. After allowing nearly 31 points per game last season the Bulldogs are 9th nationally in scoring defense this season surrendering just over 17 points per game. Only five times all season did Fresno State lose the yardage battle and only Alabama and Washington out-gained the Bulldogs by more than 55 yards. No team scored more than 26 on Fresno State in the final 10 games of the season including the 17-14 loss to Boise State in the Mountain West Championship.

Houston had some of the inconsistent results one might expect from a team led by a first-time head coach. The program also had to deal with Hurricane Harvey hitting the area just as the season was set to start, cancelling the opening game at Texas-San Antonio. Houston won at Arizona in its first game and nearly had another major conference win with a 27-24 defeat at Texas Tech. After nice wins over Temple and SMU to start the AAC season the Cougars allowed 87 points in back-to-back losses against Tulsa and Memphis. The team rebounded with an upset win at South Florida before closing the season with a defeat at Tulane and a win hosting Navy.

The quarterback situation revolved over the season. Highly regarded Texas A&M transfer Kyle Allen started the season for Houston but struggled in the first month and was benched in favor of senior Kyle Postma who had played in a few games over the previous two seasons. The best results for the Houston offense came when the team turned to sophomore D’Eriq King who started the final four games with nearly 70 percent completions and only one interception.

Junior Duke Catalon led the team in rushing for a second straight season but his carries went down significantly with the mobile King taking over at quarterback. Senior Steven Dunbar was the top target with 66 catches on 13.2 yards per reception. The offense has recently lost offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to Florida where he will re-unite with Dan Mullen.

Six times Houston’s defense allowed 22 or fewer points but overall the numbers declined dramatically compared with last season. Houston allowed nearly 100 more yards per game and more than half a yard more per game compared with the 2016 numbers. Sophomore Ed Oliver is a top NFL draft prospect after being an All American as a freshman. His 2017 numbers were down from last season drawing a lot of attention. The Cougars still possess a solid run defense allowing just 3.8 yards per rush but that average is almost a yard worse than last season.

Applewhite did coach Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl last season, a 34-10 defeat against San Diego State from the Mountain West. Tedford was 5-3 in his bowl games while California, losing his last two in 2009 and 2011 however. The 2011 Holiday Bowl loss came against Texas, where Applewhite was an offensive assistant at the time.

Historical Trends: Fresno State has lost six bowl games in a row S/U and ATS with the last victory for the program coming in 2007. Houston is 5-11 S/U and 7-9 ATS in bowl games going back to 1980, though 4-3 S/U & ATS in the past seven appearances going back to 2008. Houston has a remarkable recent record in the underdog role but is 8-13 ATS as a favorite the past two seasons and actually 5-12 ATS in the last 17 instances since October of last season when the team rose to national prominence. Fresno State is on a 12-1 ATS run as an underdog since last October, covering in all six instances this season.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

HONOLULU (AP) Marcus McMaryion threw for a career-best 342 yards and Jimmy Camacho made four field goals to help Fresno State beat Houston 33-27 on Sunday in the Hawaii Bowl.

McMaryion completed 33 of 48 passes to tie the Hawaii bowl record for completions set by Hawaii's Colt Brennan against Arizona State in 2006 and also matched by Fresno State's Derek Carr against SMU in 2012.

The Bulldogs (10-4) had their first 10-win season in five years and completed the biggest turnaround in FBS this season. They went 1-11 last year, and became just the second team in FBS history to go from double-digit losses one season to double-digit wins in the next.

The Cougars (7-5) were seeking their fifth consecutive season of eight or more wins.

Camacho was kept busy in his final game for Fresno State. He attempted six field goals, with makes of 27, 38, 26 and 33 yards, but missed a 56-yarder in the second quarter - which would have been a career long - and had a 24-yard try blocked and returned for a Houston touchdown in the third quarter. Camacho broke the Hawaii Bowl record for field goals made.

Fresno State finished with 480 yards of total offense to Houston's 341.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the first underclassman to win the Outland Trophy, had his first career carry - a 1-yard touchdown run - to cap Houston's first scoring drive in the first quarter.

Three plays into the second quarter, Fresno State tied it on McMaryion's 1-yard sneak on fourth down. The drive was extended by McMaryion's 13-yard pass completion to Da'Mari Scott on third-and-1 and a pass-interference penalty against the Cougars that moved the chains on third-and-5 four plays later.

Camacho's 27-yard field goal with 9:45 left in the second quarter gave the Bulldogs their first lead at 10-7, but Houston answered with a 31-yard field goal by Caden Novikoff a few minutes later.

Camacho missed the 56-yarderon Fresno State's next possession, but converted from 38 yards as time expired in the second half to send his team into halftime with a 13-10 lead.

Houston tied it at 13 midway through the third quarter on Novikoff's 42-yard field goal, but the Bulldogs pulled back ahead with McMaryion's 6-yard touchdown run on third down to highlight a nine-play, 75-yard drive with 4:21 remaining in the third.

Camacho lined up a 24-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter, but it was blocked by Houston's Jeremy Winchester and returned 94 yards for a touchdown by Alexander Myres.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good on Camacho's 26-yard field goal with 13:57 left to play and stretched the lead to 26-20 with his 33-yarder with six minutes remaining.

Jaron Bryant's 44-yard interception return off a deflection with 3:49 wrapped up the win for Fresno State. D'Eriq King's pass was batted up in the air by defensive end Robert Stanley and fell into the hands of Bryant, who maneuvered his way along the left sideline for the score.

King's 2-yard scoring strike to Linell Bonner in the final minute closed out the scoring.

KeeSean Johnson caught eight passes for 95 yards for Fresno State and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Steven Dunbar, one of two senior receivers for the Cougars, had seven receptions for 168 yards.

McMaryion and Dunbar were selected as the game's most valuable players for each team.

It was the first meeting between the teams.

THE TAKEAWAY

Houston: The Cougars brought the second-best completion percentage in the country at 70.1 percent. King completed 23 of his 43 pass attempts (53.5 percent) for 269 yards with an interception

Fresno State: The Bulldogs entered allowing 116.6 rushing yards per game, the fifth-best mark in FBS. They held the Cougars to 72 rush yards - well below their per-game average of 175.5 - on 30 carries, an average of just 2.4 yards per attempt.

UP NEXT

Houston, which must replace five starters on each side of the ball, will open its 2018 campaign on the road, but not far from home, when it visits Rice on Sept. 1.

Fresno State will lose a total of five starters from this year's squad. It will start off coach Jeff Tedford's sophomore season at his alma mater at home against Idaho on Sept. 1.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

-- The Utah Utes (6-6 straight up, 8-3-1 against the spread) of the Pac-12 Conference meet the West Virginia Mountaineers (7-5 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread) of the Big 12 Conference in a Power 5 matchup in the Cotton Bowl in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl. It's a meeting between two teams who have much loftier goals before the season began. Utah is fairly lucky to be bowling anywhere after a late-season swoon, while the Mountaineers enter on a much higher note. Vegas expects rather moderate scoring in this one, with the total holding steady around 56.

-- The Utes won their regular-season finale on Nov. 25 against Colorado by a 34-13 score to gain bowl eligibility on the final day of the season, covering in back-to-back games for the first time since opening the season 4-0 ATS in the first four weekends. The Utes fired out of the box with a 4-0 SU/ATS record, but a stunning 23-20 loss to Stanford really kicked them off track back on Oct. 7. They followed that up with a narrow 28-27 loss at USC on Oct. 14, and then they had their doors blown off 30-10 at home against Arizona State. After winning their first four, they endured a four-game losing streak with a 41-20 setback at Oregon back on Oct. 28. They were fortunate enough to face UCLA without pro prospect QB Drew Rosen on Nov. 3, and they went on to a 48-17 win to snap their drought.

-- When the Utes are on offense, the Mountaineers should expect to see a heavy dose of RB Zack Moss. He was this season's version of Joe Williams (man, I love that guy!). Moss rolled for 1,023 yards on 194 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per tote while punching in nine touchdowns. When Moss wasn't running the ball, it was dual-threat QB Tyler Huntley doing his thing. He completed 65.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,246 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while also running for 480 yards and four scores. He missed the regular-season finale due to an unspecified injury, giving way to QB Troy Williams. However, Huntley is fully expected to suit up for this one. Devonta'e Henry-Cole is also a bruiser who averaged 5.0 yards per attempts while finding the end zone twice.

-- In the pass game it was WR Darren Carrington II showing his playmaking ability, leading the team with 66 receptions, 918 yards and six scores. WRs Raelon Singleton and Siaosi Wilson proved that the Utes aren't a one-trick pony in the receiving corps, as Singleton found the end zone four times with 14.1 yards per reception, whileWilson was good for 20 grabs, 393 yards and a touchdown, gathering nearly 20 yards on every catch. WR Demari Simpkins is another speedster from South Florida who found his way to Salt Lake City, and he has a bright future. He showed glimpses of brilliance with 27 grabs, 337 yards and a score.

-- Utah was right down the middle in most offensive and defensive categories. They ranked 48th in the nation in total yards (417.7 per game), while accounting for 256.4 passing yards game to rank 44th. They also averaged 29.5 points per game (PPG) to check in 57th in the country. Their field-goal efficiency was one of the better percentages in the nation, converting 84.4 percent of their tries to check in 15th. On defense, Utah was stingy, finishing 32nd in the country in total yards allowed (353.5 yards per game), and they yielded just 138.5 yards per game on the ground to finishing 38th in the country in that category. They also allowed just 23.9 PPG, ranking 43rd overall.

-- For West Virginia, they were humming along nicely until QB Will Grier suffered a broken middle finger on his throwing hand in the Nov. 18 game against Texas. It was an injury which required corrective surgery. While he has yet to be ruled out for the game, head coach Dana Holgorsen has said it doesn't look good that Grier will be able to play. As such, expect to see QB Chris Chugunov under center for West Virginia.

-- The Mountaineers finished 14th in the country in total yards (485.5 yards per game), including 324.8 passing yards per game to rank 12th in the nation. However, that's mostly with Grier at the helm. When the team needed to run the ball they were rather middling, averaging 160.8 yards per game on the ground. Justin Crawford wasn't terrible, going for 1,060 yards on 5.5 yards per tote, scoring seven touchdowns. Kennedy McCoy also scored seven rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry, so there is talent there. Chugunov completed just 54.8 percent of his passes while posting 407 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in his appearances this season. While Grier has some mobility, Chugunov will never be confused with a dual-threat QB, either.

-- West Virginia's defense is among the worst of all bowl teams, as they allowed 452.5 yards per game to rank 111th in the nation, while finishing exactly 100th in the country in passing yardage allowed (247.8 yards per game) and 105th in rushing yards (204.8 yards per game). Utah should be able to move the ball early and often against a defensive unit which struggled all season, yielding 23 or more points in each of the final three outings, and eight of their final nine matchups.

-- The Mountaineers have some talented receivers, lead by Gary Jennings. He gathered 94 balls for 1,030 yards, but he managed just one score. A majority of the scoring was done by WRs David Sills V and Ka'Raun White. Sills had just 60 receptions, but 18 of them were good for touchdowns. White posted 58 grabs for 978 yards, but 11 of his receptions resulted in a score, too. WR Marcus Simms also got into them mix with 32 receptions, 630 yards and five touchdowns, so West Virginia has the players to take it to the house on most every play.

-- As a single-digit favorite this season, Utah finished 4-1 SU/ATS, winning and covering in their past two instances as 9 1/2-point favorites both against Colorado and UCLA. The only time they failed to cover as a single-digit favorite was at Oregon on Oct. 28 as a three-point fave.

-- As a single-digit underdog this season, West Virginia failed in each outing by going 0-2 SU/ATS. They dropped their opener 31-24 against Virginia Tech as a five-point 'dog, and they were tripped up 50-39 at home back on Oct. 28 against visiting Oklahoma State as an 8 1/2-point underdog.

-- Utah has posted a 9-3 ATS mark over their past 12 bowl games, and they're 9-3 ATS in their past 12 neutral-site battles, too. The Utes have also posted an impressive 18-7-1 ATS mark over their past 26 against teams with a winning overall record. Outside the Pac-12, Utah has posted a 44-21-2 ATS mark over the past 67 non-conference games, while going 4-0 ATS in their past four against Big 12 foes.

-- Dating back to the Las Vegas Bowl in 1999, the Utes are on quite the roll when it comes to the postseason. They're a whopping 13-1 SU in their past 14 bowl appearances, falling only to Boise State in the 2010 Las Vegas Bowl. Last season they pushed past Indiana by a 26-24 score in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif. These teams actually have met in a bowl game, too, squaring off in the 1964 Liberty Bowl at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. It was Utah winning by a 32-6 score in front of 6,059 fans.

-- The Mountaineers haven't been very good against the number lately, going 1-4-1 ATS over their past six, and 0-4 ATS in their past four bowl games. They're also a dismal 0-5 ATS in their past five neutral-site appearances.

-- West Virginia was tripped up by Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl last season, falling 31-14 in Orlando. They were victorious in their most recent bowl appearance against a Pac-12 side, topping Arizona State in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2, 2016 in Phoenix. However, Holgorsen is 2-3 SU in his five games as coach in a bowl game.

-- Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Duke vs. Northern Illinois**

Quick Lane Bowl History

-- In the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., the Duke Blue Devils (6-6 straight up, 6-5-1 against the spread) from the Atlantic Coast Conference locks horns with the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-4 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) from the Mid-American Conference.

-- Both teams should be rather happy to be bowling, especially Duke. They shot out of the chute with four wins to open the season, including an impressive 41-17 victory over Northwestern back on Sept. 9. They also opened 4-0 ATS. However, the Blue Devils endured a six-game losing streak which just about ended any chances of bowl eligibility. They came alive in the final two games, posting a 43-20 win against Georgia Tech, and an impressive 31-23 victory at Wake Forest in the regular-season finale to get their elusive sixth win and go bowling for a fifth time in the past six seasons, quite the feat for the Blue Devils.

-- Duke didn't pass the ball well this season, ranking 81st in the country with 210.2 yards per game through the air. They also didn't pile up the points, posting a meager 25.8 PPG to finish 84th overall in the land. The reason the Blue Devils are bowling is mostly because of their defense. Duke allowed just 338.8 yards per game to rank 25th in the country, and they were even stingier in pass defense by allowing just 174.8 yards per game, finishing 11th overall. They yielded just 20.8 PPG, too, finishing 26th in the nation.

-- QB Daniel Jones wasn't terribly effective up top, completing just 55.7 percent of his pass attempts for 2,439 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He did good work on the ground, however, rushing for 432 yards while tying for the team lead with six rushing scores. RB Shaun Wilson led the way with 743 yards and five touchdowns, while Brittain Brown gobbled up 660 yards with a team-high 5.6 yards per total and a team-high tying six rushing scores.

-- The top three receivers on this team each had just one touchdown grab, so that's an area of concern for Duke. WR T.J. Rahming is this year's version of Conner Vernon or Jamison Crowder, posting 61 receptions for 733 yards and 12.0 yards per grab. The next best receiver was Johnathan Lloyd, who hauled in 37 balls for 364 yards and a score. RB Shaun Wilson came out of the backfield to snag 32 receptions for 241 yards and five scores, while TE Daniel Helm totaled 188 yards and two scores while going for 11.1 yards per grab.

-- Like Duke, NIU is rather marginal on the offensive side of the ball. They averaged 388.1 yards per game, finishing 82nd in the land, while rushing was their biggest area of success. The Huskies posted 190.0 yards per game to finish 37th overall in the country. That will be the key to this game - NIU's rushing offense vs. Duke's rushing defense. On defense, the Huskies were sharp. They gave up just 328.4 yards per game to check in 18th in the country, and they ranked 11th in the nation with 112.2 yards per game allowed. They also yielded just 20.8 PPG to finish 27th.

-- The offense is led by freshman QB Marcus Childers, who is rather green, but he has tremendous upside. The frosh completed just 57.3 percent of his throws for 1,445 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also scampered for 459 and five touchdowns, a mark which actually led the team. When Childers wasn't running it was Jordan Huff leading the charge. He averaged a robust 5.8 yards per game, compiling 740 yards with four scores. Marcus Jones is also one to watch, as he racked up 347 yards and two touchdowns.

-- WR Spencer Tears won't make anyone cry, but he was pretty effective with 39 receptions for a team-high 461 yards and four touchdowns. Like Duke, the Huskies also like to use their tight end, and it was TE Shane Wimann leading the team with seven receiving TDs, posting 30 grabs for 283 yards and 9.4 yards per receptions. WR Christian Blake, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. product, tied for the team lead with 39 grabs while adding 421 yards and four scores.

-- Duke posted a dismal 2-5-1 ATS over their past eight games overall, but they're 19-6-1 ATS in their past 26 non-conference tilts. They re also an impressive 13-1 ATS across their past 14 games on a fieldturf surface. The 'over' has also cashed in each of the past four bowl games for the Blue Devils, although the 'under' was 9-1 over their past 10. The under is also 9-4 in Duke's past 13 non-conference tilts and 5-1 in their past six against teams with a winning overall record.

-- NIU hasn't been as good against the number recently, posting a 1-4 ATS mark over their past five overall, and 1-6 ATS in their past seven games in the month of December. They're also 0-4 ATS in their past four bowl appearances, while going 5-15-1 ATS across the past 21 neutral-site games. However, they have covered four in a row outside the conference while going 4-1-1 ATS in their past six tries against ACC foes.

-- Duke won a thrilling Pinstripe Bowl in their most recent postseason appearance, topping Indiana 44-41 back on Dec. 26, 2015. That was their first bowl victory since the 1961 Cotton Bowl when they edged out Arkansas by a 7-6 score. The Blue Devils also have the honor of hosting the 1942 Rose Bowl in their home stadium back in North Carolina, a loss to Oregon State. That Rose Bowl was moved from California to North Carolina due to World War II and the threat to the west coast.

-- This will be NIU's first bowl appearance since Dec. 23, 2015, a 55-7 spanking from Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Huskies have been on the short end of their past four bowl appearances, including the 2013 Orange Bowl when they were basically a Group of Six team facing off against Florida State. Their last bowl win was Jan. 8, 2012 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. against Arkansas State, 38-20.

-- Kickoff is slated for 5:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Kansas State vs. UCLA**

Cactus Bowl History

-- The latest installment of the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. features two more Power 5 Conference teams battling each other. The Kansas State Wildcats (7-5 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread) from the Big 12 battle the UCLA Bruins (6-6 straight up, 4-8 against the spread) from the Pac-12.

-- The Bruins will be led by interim head coach Jedd Fisch, who keeps the seat warm until Chip Kelly is ready to take over in the offseason. Fisch is in there because the team elected to can Jim Mora Jr. after the team's loss against USC. He steered them to a 30-27 victory against California in the regular season finale back on Nov. 24, helping the team secure bowl eligibility when it looked rather grim.

-- UCLA ranked 19th in the nation in total yardage with 465.7 yards per game, and they were fifth in the nation with 345.3 yards per game through the air. That's because of NFL prospect Drew Rosen airing it out early and often. The run game wasn't much to write home about, ranking a dismal 114th in the nation with just 120.3 yards per game. On defense, the Bruins were dinged for 488.8 yards per game, ranking 123rd in the country. That's an area they'll need to shore up if they're to have success. They couldn't stop anyone on the ground, yielding a dismal 282.7 yards per game to check in 129th.

-- The offense is all about Rosen, and he will play in the bowl game. The trend for pro prospects lately has been to skip the team's bowl game, but he vowed to play. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,717 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for two scores, but he'll never be confused with Michael Vick or Cam Newton. Bolo Olorunfunmi gave the team some semblance of a run game down the stretch, posting a team-best 542 yards with five scores, while Soso Jamabo scored a team-best six rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

-- WR Jordan Lasley is Rosen's favorite target, hauling in 61 balls for 1,136 yards and eight scores. He also led the team with a sparkling 18.6 yards per reception. WR Darren Andrews is right there with 773 yards and 12.9 yards per grab, while leading the team with 10 touchdown grabs. TE Caleb Wilson also served as a nice tertiary receiving option, posting 38 grabs, 490 yards, 12.9 yards per catch and one score. Jamabo has the best hands of the receivers out of the backfield, catching 16 balls with 12.4 yards per reception.

-- K-State struggled on the offensive side of the ball, at least in the passing game. The Wildcats were able to muster just 181.7 yards per game through the air, ranking 97th in the country. Their bread was buttered in the run game, posting 186.7 yards per game, which was good for 41st in the country. They're also decent in the kick game, should the game be decided by a late field goal. On defense, they lock it down against the run, giving up just 121.8 yards per game to check in 19th. That makes it likely UCLA runs even less than they usually do, especially since the Wildcats allowed 310.2 yards per game through the air to rank 129th in FBS. Not good against a QB like Rosen and a pass-first offense.

-- QB Jesse Ertz was lost for the season in late November to a knee injury, and QB Alex Delton (head) is a question mark for the bowl game. QB Skylar Thompson is likely to start, and he posted a team-best 63.2 completion percent with 662 passing yards, five touchdowns and just two interceptions while running 64 times for 263 yards and three scores. RB Alex Barnes topped the charts with 702 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Delton was second on the team with 342 yards and five scores, so he could help out if cleared.

-- With a hodgepodge at quarterback this season, you would think the receiving game struggles, but WR Byron Pringle is a talented playmaker in the mold of a Darren Sproles or Tyler Lockett, two former K-State alumni. He had just 28 grabs, but went for a team-high 705 yards or 25.2 yards per receptions while finding the end zone six times. He is also a big-time threat in the special teams department, so watch for that. WR Isaiah Zuber is a possession receiver who is a go-to guy when trying to move the sticks. He had by far the most catches (51), while posting four scores. WR Dalton Schoen posted 20.4 yards per reception with three scores.

-- The Wildcats limp into this game with a 2-7 ATS mark over their past nine bowl games, and they're just 2-5 ATS across the past seven neutral-site battles. They're also just 1-5 ATS in their past six tries against teams from the Pac-12 Conference.

-- The Bruins haven't exactly lit the world afire against the number, either, going 1-7 ATS in their past eight non-conference battles, 4-10 ATS in their past 14 overall and 7-16 ATS in the past 23 on grass surfaces. The Bruins like to go 'over', posting a 5-1-1 mark in their past seven non-conference tilts, and an 11-4 'over' mark in the past 15 vs. teams from the Big 12.

-- If this seems like a familiar bowl matchup, these two teams did meet in the 2015 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. The Bruins came away with a 40-35 victory. It's a familiar result for the Wildcats, as they're a dismal 2-7 SU over their past nine bowl games.

-- UCLA is bowling for the first time since Dec. 26, 2015 in the Foster Farms Bowl, a 37-29 loss in a thriller against Nebraska. Their last bowl victory was that win against K-State in the Alamo Bowl, and they're 2-1 in their past three, but just 6-11 SU over their past 17 postseason appearances.

-- Kickoff is slated for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

It's the Big 12 vs the Pac 12 in the Cactus Bowl as Kansas State and UCLA make the trip to the home of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks to square off. Bowl games at baseball diamonds are becoming more of the norm these days, but seeing a pool out there in the bleachers has got to be a new experience for all the guys on both sidelines here.

This game is significant for UCLA as it's likely QB Josh Rosen's last start with the program before he becomes a mulch-millionaire as a NFL quarterback, and while he is already highly touted and expected to be a Top 5 or Top 10 pick, this is is last chance to showcase his talent in live game action. Granted, Rosen is more likely to potentially hurt his draft stock with a poor performance than drastically increase it with a dominant effort (simply because he's already so highly thought of), but bettors should expect the great Josh Rosen to show up here. Will it be enough to lead UCLA to the outright upset?
Kansas State (-2); Total set at 64.5

UCLA finished 2017 with just a 6-6 SU record as despite Rosen's brilliance more often than not, the Bruins defense is very suspect and the overall depth of talent on the entire roster isn't all that deep. But when you've got a NFL-caliber QB in your program, expectations are always high, and the Bruins administration had enough of HC Jim Mora that they fired him with a few regular season games still to go. Everyone knew about how good Rosen is, but it was Mora's inability to either recruit top level talent elsewhere, or his inability to coach his players up – especially on defense – that cost him his gig and the Bruins will be going through quite a few changes once this game is over. The Chip Kelly era at UCLA already has high expectations, but that won't start in earnest until the Rosen era officially ends.

Kansas State was 7-5 SU on the year playing in the Big 12, but like they do every year they came up with a few surprising victories. They beat OK State in Stillwater as nearly 20-point underdogs, upset Texas Tech on the road in OT, and hung tough with CFB Playoff bound Oklahoma. HC Bill Snyder has this uncanny ability to get the most out of his players each and every year, but at 78 years old and still uncertain about his immediate future as a coach, reports are starting to come out that he's holding this program “hostage.” Eventually K-State will enter a new era themselves once Snyder decides to hang em up, but despite all of Synder's success over the years at the program, that's not always translated to the Bowl games.

Kansas State is 2-5 SU the last seven years in Bowl efforts during this second era with Synder, and when he was with the program from 1989-2005, K-State's record in Bowl games was just 6-5 SU. In those years where K-State entered their Bowl game with fewer then 10 wins, the Wildcats are just 3-7 SU in their Bowl game, so history isn't exactly on their side here. K-State is also 2-7 ATS in their last nine Bowl appearances overall, and a 1-5 ATS run against Pac-12 opponents suggests that this Wildcats team may struggle a bit. After all, elite QB's like Mason Rudolph and Baker Mayfield each put up 40+ on them, and Rosen's just as good, if not better than both of those guys.

For UCLA it is all about whether or not their defense can hold down the fort and the entire team can shake their woes away from home. The Bruins were 6-6 SU yes, but that splits up to a 6-0 SU record at home and a 0-6 SU mark on the road. This is probably more of a home game than road game given it's close by in Arizona, but this team has had it's issues away from the Rose Bowl all year long.

Yet, with Rosen at the helm everything is possible for this Bruins team and there is a good chance the rest of his teammates rally around him in his final collegiate game. UCLA's defense had two of their better performances of the year in their final two games against USC and Cal, and this K-State attack isn't nearly as explosive as the ones they saw on those days. As long as they can hold K-State to 24 or less points (they average 32.1), Rosen and offense should be able to do the rest here.

In the end, the oddsmakers have the wrong team favored in this game as the Bruins should be the ones who win this game outright. At +2.5 on the spread, buying a half-point up to +3 is the safer route to go, but ML odds of +120ish are just as attractive. Rosen hasn't had a lot of things go right in terms of wins and losses throughout his collegiate career, but as he transitions to the NFL after this game, his last memory of playing college football will be a winning one.

Best Bets:
UCLA +2.5
UCLA ML +120

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

Series Record: UCLA leads 2-1, beat the Wildcats 40-35 in the 2015 Alamo Bowl the last time.
WHAT'S AT STAKE

UCLA is playing its final game under interim coach Jedd Fisch before former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly takes over the program. Kansas State is closing out its 26th season under Bill Snyder, who has not decided if he will return next season.

KEY MATCHUP

UCLA's defense vs. K-State QB Skylar Thompson. The Bruins can put up a lot of points on offense, but also are among the worst in FBS in allowing them, tied for 117th at 36.8 points allowed per game. Thompson, a redshirt freshman, started the season as K-State's third-string quarterback, but has played well since taking over the No. 1 spot. In the final three games, he threw for 515 yards and four touchdowns on 38-of-60 passing, adding 158 rushing yards and two more scores. Slowing him will be key for UCLA.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kansas State: CB D.J. Reed. The junior is a playmaker on defense and special teams. He is second nationally in kick returns with a 35.3-yard average and has four interceptions.

UCLA: QB Josh Rosen. The Cactus Bowl could be Rosen's final college game, or he may have already played it. The star quarterback might not play in the bowl game because of concussion concerns. So his finale could have been a win over California on Nov. 24, a game in which he sat out the second half because of injuries. Of course, Rosen could also decide to return to the Bruins.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Cactus Bowl will be played at Chase Field, home of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, for the third straight season. The bowl was temporarily moved as Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium undergoes renovations. ... Kansas State has played in eight straight bowl games. ... UCLA is playing in a bowl game after missing the postseason a year ago. The Bruins last bowl was the 2015 Foster Farms. ... Kansas State's Byron Pringle leads the nation in yards per catch at 25.18. ... UCLA WR Jordan Lasley had 29 catches for 593 yards his last 3 games.

Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

U.S. Citizens please take note: The information at this site is for news and entertainment purposes only. Any usage of this information in violation of any federal, state, or local laws is strictly prohibited.